Adventures in gardening, cooking, and eating

Menu

In My Kitchen – June 2018

This month is about gratitude. I am filled with gratitude. Gratitude for wonderful and loving friends and family who joined us to celebrate our new home, two significant birthdays, our 30 year anniversary, and survival. Survival through my second brush with cancer last year. i have a lot to be grateful for.

Gratitude

My kitchen and home in Fort Bragg was filled with those friends. Here is a small glimpse of those who came to celebrate. I wish there were more pictures. We had such a lovely time that we were too busy to take them. Even the playlist (that I spent hours pouring over) never got played. It would have interrupted the conversation.

My tartine sous chefs – Diane, Pat and Jane

I had lots of eager help. These lovely ladies came from Florida and Texas, they were my sous chefs for the three tartines served as a first course. Such a joy to have them in my kitchen.

The lentil salad was a big hit. Thank you to my book club friend who recommended the recipe and my San Diego friend who helped assemble it.

Roast cauliflower and lentil salad with dates and almonds

In my kitchen I had grilled salmon. My husband was able to purchase an entire 18 pound salmon in Oakland’s Chinatown a few days before the party. The recipe came from A Boat, A Whale & A Walrus by Renee Ericklson in Seattle. It was amazing. Only a little was left over to be smoked by another friend. Look for that in next month’s post.

Thank you everyone or coming and spending time in my home and kitchen; whether in person, in spirit, on on line. I truly feel blessed.

This post is part of a monthly peek into kitchens around the world, and I do mean the world. Australia, US, sometimes New Zealand, the UK and others that come and go. Sherry @ Sherry’s Pickings is the host. There is always something new, click on the link to take a look and please, join in with us.

I agree, we don’t stand alone. Those connections become very important and I realize that there are many times in the past years that my life could have been snuffled out, easily. We need to treasure each moment.

I am grateful for you, Liz, and we WERE there in spirit! In fact, we were here in FL with granddaughter Tess, 8, who went non-stop for 3 days, and took us along with her! Even to and fro we played Road Trip Bingo! Took us a while to recover! Thanks for sharing the fun and menu of a celebration of all good things! Cheers and love!

Thanks Liz for a peak into your new kitchen, home and the banquet that you served for your house warming. Everything looks so tasty. I love the clean up team too. Best wishes for your new life in this lovely house, and I am very pleased to hear that your brush with cancer was caught early.

Pickled asparagus reminds me of my mom. She’s been known to eat it straight out of the jar. Gratitude is such a good thing especially in times of struggle. Sorry to hear of your recent brush with cancer.

hi Liz
thanks so much for being part of IMK. so sorry to hear about your brush with cancer. my SIL is suffering breast cancer atm; sadly it may not be long for her. your food looks so delicious, and the platter with the lentil salad is a beautiful thing. lovely for you to have such great friends. cheers sherry x

So sorry for your SIL. It is such a devastating thing to lose someone you love. With newer genetic testing it turned out my family on my fathers side had a mutation. I’ve lost 3 aunts to breast cancer and several of my cousins have had mastectomies as well.